UW campaign closes short

United Way of Wayne & Holmes Counties declared its fundraising campaign closed Friday, despite falling about $23,000 short of its $1.53 million goal.

"I'm extremely proud of our campaign team. Everybody worked really hard," as did United Way staff, said Don Noble II, campaign chairman. "Many kudos to them."

It was difficult to close the campaign without having reached goal, but with allocations committees about to start meeting, a final number was needed, Noble said.

That final number is about $1.462 million. An additional $45,000 in interest income brings the total to about $1.507 million. A "generous early gift" allowed the agency to accumulate the interest income, said Brenda Linnick, United Way's executive director.

"I want to thank everyone who did give and who gave generously," Linnick said.

The final totals will be reduced slightly when United Way accounts for "uncollectable pledges" and fundraising costs. Uncollectable pledges refers to any funds that were pledged that won't actually be given, such as when an employee pledges a certain amount but loses his job before he can make the donation, Linnick said. That typically adds up to $75,000-$80,000 each year, she said.

Total agency requests are about $1,312,862, she said.

"We're going to be short. There's no ifs, ands or buts about it," Linnick said.

Falling short of the goal is a "sign of the times," and the uncertainty felt throughout the community, Linnick said.

"In uncertain times, the vulnerable need help even more," and those who normally aren't vulnerable suddenly become vulnerable, she said.

United Way's partner agencies already are saying they might have to establish limits on their participation rates, she said.

"They're already saying we cannot continue to grow at the rate we're growing," Linnick said. "There will be fewer people helped because the funds won't be there."

That's going to make for some very tough decisions for the allocations committees, she said.

"This community is very generous. They don't want to see people homeless. They don't want to know somebody can't get help if they really, truly need help," Linnick said.

This year's fundraising campaign was kept open the longest of any local fundraising campaign, Linnick said.

Last year's campaign closed the first full week in February, just barely meeting the $1.525 million goal.

"It's getting tougher and tougher to get campaigns run and get final numbers in," Noble said.